// call this script using the following include: /* ********************* snip below this line ********************* ********************* snip above this line ********************* */ // Standardized PopUp Window Opening JavaScript // VERSION HISTORY: // VERSION 1.0b Febraury 7, 2000 (about a week prior to actually) // goal was to create a popoup window button which would ALWAY work when clicked // see testing below for more information // LOTS of different methods and scripts were researched and tested // SOURCES: (roughly in order of perceived usefulness): // http://www.infohiway.com/javascript/n/n0100b.htm // http://webreference.com/js/column7/ // http://www.devguru.com/index.asp?page=/Technologies/ecmascript/quickref/win_open.html // http://developer.netscape.com/docs/manuals/communicator/jsref/win.htm // http://www.webreference.com/javascript/960826/windows_frames.html // http://builder.cnet.com/Programming/Kahn/092497/toolwb.html // KNOWN ISSUES: //if this page is reloaded, it will forget what new_windows it had opened // and be unable to focus() on it or close() it (or do anything with it) // the only true way around this was a method using cookies // however, the cookies method would crash IE5 under specific conditions // if the main window was closed manually while leaving the new_window open // and then another window was opened manually, produced a IE5.01 crash (98 & NT) // the best work around is to close the new_window on unLoad of the main page // TESTING: // This script was tested successfully on current versions of NS and IE on Win98, NT, and Mac // Test date February 2, 2000 // features tested: // link and form buttons open window (or brings previously opened window to top) consistently // links and buttons work even after new window closed manually by user // links and buttons work even after new window URL changed by user (returns to original URL) // links and buttons work even after main page is reloaded or URL changed by user // (unload causes the new window to close, but the link will successfully open it again) // WARNING: Be sure to close the new_window on unLoad of this page! // use: // if you forget the links to open the new_window won't work if the main_window is reloaded! self.name="main_window"; // name this window, "main_window" in case the popup needs to target links var new_window = null; // resets this global variable when page is executed function popup_window (window_url, window_name, window_features) { if (new_window && !new_window.closed && new_window.name != window_name) { // if the new_window already exists and it isn't closed then just bring it to the top new_window.focus(); if (new_window.location.href != window_url) { new_window.location.href = window_url; } } else { // open a window and make sure that the window can access values from this window new_window = window.open(window_url,window_name,window_features); if (new_window.opener == null) { // if something went wrong (I presume this is for browser backwards compatibility) new_window.opener = self; } new_window.opener.name = self.name; } } function popup_window_close() { if (new_window) { new_window.close(); new_window = null; } }